“Gyeongbuk-Daegu Administrative Integration Is an Important Task; Northern Region Development Measures Need Careful Review”... Lee Chunwoo, Chair of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Special Committee

Second Meeting Reviews Work Reports and Key Issues
Im Mu-seok and Kim Jae-jun Also Warn of Adverse Effects

The Gyeongbuk Provincial Council’s Special Committee on Gyeongbuk-Daegu Administrative Integration, chaired by Lee Chun-woo, held its second meeting on October 15, during the 366th regular session. The committee heard work reports from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integration Promotion Team and the Gyeongbuk Office of Education and focused on reviewing key issues related to the integration.

The work reports were prepared amid growing recognition that Gyeongbuk-Daegu administrative integration is a key task for overcoming the Seoul-centric system and promoting balanced national development. The committee aimed to re-examine preparations for the integration and thoroughly review the transfer of substantive authority and measures to ensure balanced regional development, with a view to realizing “locally led growth hubs.”

Committee member Lee Dong-eop (Pohang) reviewed the progress of the special bill currently pending before the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee. He said the committee and the provincial administration should communicate through various channels and make every effort to facilitate smooth consultations with the National Assembly so the bill can be passed at a plenary session as soon as possible.

Committee member Kim Su-mun (Uiseong) said, “Securing stable financial support from the central government must come first to make the integration effective.” He urged officials to “make every effort to deliver tangible results that Gyeongbuk residents can genuinely feel in their daily lives.”

Committee member Im Mu-seok (Yeongju) referred to past city-county integration cases, noting that conflicts and difficulties between local governments remain even after many years. He warned that “various adverse effects could arise if detailed consultations and prior coordination are inadequate in the Gyeongbuk-Daegu integration process.” He stressed that “to make Gyeongbuk-Daegu a better place to live, potential problems arising during the integration process must be carefully analyzed, and thorough advance measures and standards must be established first.”

Committee member Choi Deok-gyu (Gyeongju) called for a close comparison and analysis of the powers granted under the Jeonnam-Gwangju integration case and those provided for in the Gyeongbuk-Daegu special bill. He said that true locally led integration requires not only financial support but also substantive local autonomy, and urged the committee to review cases in which provisions granting authority were removed or scaled back in the special bill.

Committee member Kim Jae-hwan (Yecheon) conveyed the range of views and concerns raised by residents and local stakeholders in northern Gyeongbuk during the integration process. He stressed that clear standards must first be set for key matters, including the location of the integrated government offices and the assembly, and that a concrete blueprint for the shared development of the northern region should be presented to build broader public support.

Committee member Kim Jae-jun (Uljin) cited examples of conflicts following integration in other regions and called for detailed advance discussions with Daegu City on the issues that will arise after integration. He also urged officials to prepare a proactive roadmap for addressing anticipated problems jointly with the council and report it to the committee.

Lee Chun-woo, chair of the Special Committee on Gyeongbuk-Daegu Administrative Integration (Yeongcheon), said, “As Gyeongbuk-Daegu administrative integration is a critical task that will shape the region’s future, we need to accurately identify why the bill is currently stalled at the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee and carefully review once again how to reach agreement with Gyeongbuk’s 22 cities and counties and Daegu City, as well as measures to develop the northern region.” He added, “The special committee will focus all its efforts on thoroughly examining the key issues and seeking practical solutions that all residents can support.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.